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Definition of ask
asked
play \ˈas(k)t, ˈäs(k)t, ˈask; dialectal ˈakst\;asking
transitive verb
1a : to call on for an answer She asked him about his trip.b : to put a question about asking her opinionc : speak, utter ask a question
2a : to make a request of She asked her teacher for help.b : to make a request for She asked help from her teacher.
3 : to call for : require a challenge that will ask much of us
4 : to set as a price asked $3000 for the car
5 : invite She asked a few friends to the party.
intransitive verb
1 : to seek information ask for her address
2 : to make a request asked for food
asker
nounask for it
informal
: to behave in a way that invites punishment or retribution Experts used to think that battered women were “asking for it”—somehow masochistically provoking abuse from their men. Mercifully, that idea has now been discredited. — Michele Ingrassia
ask for trouble
informal
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Recent Examples of ask from the Web
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The sale process was run completely by Danone and Lazard, Hirshberg says, adding that a number of companies—in the high teens—initially asked to look at the company's books.
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Women talked about being dismissed and talked over in meetings with no other female employees, and asked questions about diversity in hiring and the lack of women in leadership positions.
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On Monday, The Enquirer filed its complaint with the Ohio Supreme Court stating Ghiz violated the First Amendment by refusing to release transcripts of a question asked by the jury.
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To help pass the time, SI.com is asking and answering three key questions about each of the teams in our Way-Too-Early Top 25.
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In a letter sent Monday to the town council, Superintendent Bill Collins and board chair Nancy Petronio asked for a meeting to discuss options and said the attorney's opinion should not be considered a decision by the board of education.
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Jorgensen would also ask the court for reasonable attorney fees and other relief, if the case is filed.
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Chyna is reportedly seeking sole custody and is asking for Rob to only have visitation rights.
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Two questions must now be asked: Did expansion actually make the problem worse?
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ask'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of ask
Middle English, from Old English āscian; akin to Old High German eiscōn to ask, Lithuanian ieškoti to seek, Sanskrit icchati he seeks
Synonym Discussion of ask
ask, request, solicit mean to seek to obtain by making one's wants known. ask implies no more than the statement of the desire. ask a favor of a friend request implies greater formality and courtesy. requests the pleasure of your company solicit suggests a calling attention to one's wants or desires by public announcement or advertisement. a letter soliciting information
ask
Definition of ask
chiefly British, informal
: something asked for, requested, or required of someone —used especially in phrases like a big ask and a tough ask to say that what is being asked for or hoped for is difficult or unlikely It's a big ask, I think, demanding audiences recall a plot from two years ago, and while normally I don't mind a big ask … this particular ask utterly defeated me. — Deborah Ross
Origin and Etymology of ask
noun derivative of 1ask
ASK Defined for Kids
ask
playDefinition of ask for Students
asked
;asking
1 : to seek information by posing a question She asked if I was worried. They asked about our trip.
2 : to make a request Did you ask for help?
3 : to set as a price I'm asking ten dollars for my skates.
4 : invite 2 I asked some friends to my party.
5 : to behave as if seeking a result You're asking for trouble.
Learn More about ask
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for ask Spanish Central: Translation of ask Nglish: Translation of ask for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of ask for Arabic speakers
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